The Youth Football League concluded another season of exciting action with the staging of the 2025 Junior Cup Under-11 All-Island Finals at Constant Spring football field in St Andrew on Saturday.

A total of 12 teams from across Jamaica competed in 19 matches, marking the culmination of a month-long journey that brought together the nation’s top primary and preparatory school footballers.

At the end of a day filled with skill, energy, and determination, the Mighty Saints of Sts Peter and Paul Preparatory emerged as champions, defeating Lannamans Preparatory 3–1 in the grand final.

The victory marked only the second occasion in the tournament’s history that a regional champion went on to secure the national title. The first to achieve this distinction was Emmanuel Christian Academy in 2022.

The day’s matches were played in an atmosphere of camaraderie and fair play. The quarter-finals saw Lannamans defeat Mineral Heights 3–0; Balmagie and Wolmers battle to a 1–1 draw (Balmagie won on penalties); Reach Academy edge past Mandevilla 1–0, and the Mighty Saints overcome Creative Kids 2–0.

In the semi-finals, Lannamans and Balmagie played to 1–1 result (Lannamans’ won on penalties), while the Mighty Saints continued their impressive run with a 2–0 victory over Reach Academy.

The final brought together two of Kingston’s strongest programmes, with the Mighty Saints prevailing 3–1 to lift the coveted All-Island trophy.

Among the special guests in attendance was Reggae Boyz legend and newly conferred Order of Distinction recipient Ricardo “Bibi” Gardner, who took time to speak with the young athletes.

Gardner commended the Youth Football League for its role in nurturing future talent.

“I started here as well. I started in these grassroots tournaments. This is the platform I used to kickstart my career and showcase my talent before playing at the highest level in the Premier League and the World Cup. I think we have some future stars here. These tournaments are very important and it’s a great initiative,” he said.

Gardner’s presence was especially meaningful as he was visiting the island to receive the national honour for his contribution to sports on Heroes Day.

Tournament organiser Paula Pinnock, managing director of the Youth Football League, expressed her pride in the continued growth and impact of the competition. She noted that this was the fourth staging of the All-Island tournament, and the fact that four different schools have claimed the title is evidence of the increasing competitiveness of youth football across the island.

Pinnock emphasised that for many participating schools, especially at the primary level, the Junior Cup provides a rare and valuable opportunity to compete in a structured, well-organised tournament.

She also highlighted the league’s commitment to supporting school sports development and strengthening its partnerships within the football community.

“The Youth Football League continues to seek the support of the Sports Development Foundation and the Ministry of Sports as we expand our programmes and include more schools each year. We are particularly grateful to our sponsors and donors, whose commitment makes this initiative possible,” Pinnock stated, while noting the financial backing of “major sponsor” Kemtek and the endorsement of the Jamaica Football Federation.

She said the 2025 Junior Cup “once again demonstrated the transformative power of sport in shaping discipline, teamwork, and community pride” among Jamaica’s youth.

The Youth Football League organisers have turned attention to an exciting 2026 calendar, featuring the NEXT Cup, Girlz Can Play Too, and the Champions Cup tournaments, all dedicated to the development of young talent and the advancement of grass-roots football across the island.